Primavera Sound 2015 Preview

One of the leading music festivals in the world, Primavera Sound has been bringing a wide and powerful mix of music over many days and many stages to Barcelona. 2015 is no exception, with everything from pop to experimental, brand new acts to a Riot Grrrl reunion, Monday to Sunday, May 25th to 31st:

MONDAY, MAY 25th

Apolo Venue Iceage Copenhagen’s punk rock outfit Iceage (QRO photos at a festival) deliver on record (QRO mp3 review), but struggle a little live (QRO live review). Also: Umberto & Antoni Maiovvi La Botiga del Primavera Oso

TUESDAY, MAY 26th

Apolo Venue Ratking Harlem hip-hop act Ratking (QRO photos at a festival) come to Primavera Sound behind last year’s debut So It Goes. Also: Boreals Ibeyi La Botiga del Primavera Grushenka

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th

ATP Stage OMD, 22:25 – 23:25 While in the States, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, a.k.a. OMD (QRO live review), are best known for their single “If You Leave” from John Hughes’ classic eighties teen drama Pretty In Pink, in their native U.K. and elsewhere the group (QRO live review) are considered one of the founders of synth-pop, which has become popular with a whole new generation.
Albert Hammond Jr., 21:15 – 22:00 You probably still know Albert Hammond, Jr. from his day job as guitarist for this century/millennium’s first hit alt-rock band, The Strokes (see below), but he’s also forged his own successful solo career (QRO photos solo at a festival), most recently 2013’s AHJ EP.
Also: Cinerama, 20:10 – 20:55 Christina Rosenvinge, 19:00 – 19:45 Panama, 17:55 – 18:35 Las Ruinas, 17:00 – 17:35

THURSDAY, MAY 28th

Auditori Rockdelux Sun Kil Moon, 20:45 – 21:45 Mark Kozelek (QRO photos at a festival) has been crafting intricate, exquisite music for years as Sun Kil Moon (QRO album review).
Hans-Joachim Roedelius, 19:15 – 20:15 Founder of krautrock outfits Cluster & Harmonia (plus his ambient jazz trio Aquarello), the experimental Hans-Joachim Roedelius comes to Primavera Sound.
Panda Bear, 17:30 – 18:30 One of the founding members of Baltimore’s ultra-relevant experimental electronic outfit Animal Collective (QRO live review), Noah Lennox – a.k.a. Panda Bear (QRO photos at a festival) – broke out of the zoo and is now on his own (QRO photos at a festival), with 2011’s Tomboy (QRO review), the follow-up to 2007’s Person Pitch (QRO review). He comes to Primavera Sound after contributing to Daft Punk’s Grammy-winning Random Access Memories (QRO review), playing off his own new Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper. Also: Arthur Russell’s Instrumentals, 16:00 – 17:00
Ray-Ban Stage Andrew Weatherall, 02:50 – 04:10 Andrew Weatherall has produced & remixed for the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Beth Orton, Björk, Manic Street Preachers, My Bloody Valentine, James, and many more.
JUNGLE, 01:55 – 02:45 Catch the modern-soul London music collective JUNGLE.
Chet Faker, 23:55 – 00:50 Melbourne electronic musician Chet Faker (QRO live review) comes to Barcelona (QRO photos at a festival) after winning a slew of awards Down Under.
Mikal Cronin, 21:50 – 22:40 Alt-garage utility player Mikal Cronin (QRO photos at a festival) has emerged as a force in his own right (QRO photos at a festival), most recently with 2013’s solo sophomore effort, MCII.
Giant Sand, 19:50 – 20:40 Howard Gelb’s Giant Sand have had a revolving door of artists in their near three decades – most recently with Danes backing him up. Also: Hiss Golden Messenger, 18:05 – 18:55 Perro, 17:00 – 17:45
H&M Pro Stage Zamilska, 03:00 Foex, 02:00 – 02:40 Denis The Night & The Panic Party, 01:00 – 01:40 Magaly Fields, 00:00 – 00:40 Rebeka, 23:00 – 23:40 Acollective, 22:00 – 22:40 Fakuta, 21:00 – 21:40 Garden City Movement, 20:00 – 20:40 – QRO interview Siberian Wolves, 19:00 – 19:40 theAngelcy, 18:00 – 18:40 Camarones Orquesta Guitarrística, 17:00 – 17:40
Pitchfork Stage Roman Flügel, 03:15 – 05:15 Gui Boratto, 02:10 – 3:10 The colorful mixologist Gui Boratto hails from the colorful Brazil.
Simian Mobile Disco, 00:40 – 01:40 The Disco gets very Mobile when ‘The James’ – Ford & Shaw – bring the light & sound show that is Simian Mobile Disco (QRO live review) to Primavera Sound (QRO photos), where their lights can really shine (QRO photos).
Tyler, the Creator, 23:20 – 00:15 Primavera Sound flirts with awesomeness and danger by booking the infamous Tyler, the Creator. In addition to fronting the ultra-chaotic Odd Future (QRO live review) collective, he’s released two solo studio albums of his own, 2012’s Goblin (QRO review) and 2015’s Wolf (QRO review).
Also: Mineral, 22:05 – 22:55 Ought, 20:55 – 21:40 Viet Cong, 19:45 – 20:30 – QRO photos at a festival Twerps, 18:35 – 19:20 Ocellot, 17:30 – 18:10
Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage Mutiny On the Bounty, 22:30 – 22:50 Denis The Night & The Panic Party, 21:00 – 21:20 WRY, 19:30 – 19:50 The Shalalalas, 18:00 – 18:20
Heineken Stage James Blake, 01:30 – 02:45 People seemed to start talking about ‘post-dubstep’ before dubstep was even a thing, in the form of highly hyped Brit James Blake (QRO live review). But the former singer of Mount Kimbie (QRO photos at a festival) has been making massive waves with his self-titled debut (QRO review) and Overgrown, so see for yourself what all the fuss is about (QRO photos at a big venue).
Antony & The Johnsons, 22:20 – 23:35 Antony Hegarty’s art-chamber experimentalism as Antony & The Johnsons (QRO album review) is a perfect fit for Primavera Sound.
Benjamin Booker, 20:00 – 21:00 The neo-garage of Benjamin Booker (QRO photos at a festival) isn’t that special, but is getting him attention. Also: Childhood, 18:00 – 18:45
Heineken Hidden Stage Battles, 20:30 – 21:15 Most instrumental-only acts are, frankly, boring to watch live. But there are a few exceptions to the rule, such as Explosions In the Sky (QRO live review) and New York’s own Battles (QRO live review). Though they lost Tyondai Braxton (QRO photos with him), the band is still ultra-exciting to see on stage (QRO photos outdoors), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival), as they return to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’11). Also: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, 18:00 – 18:45
Adidas Originals Stage The Suicide of Western Culture, 03:15 – 04:00 Awarded ‘Best Spanish Electronic Act’ in 2010, Suicide of Western Culture comes to Primavera Sound.
Electric Wizard, 01:50 – 02:45 Dorset doom metal outfit Electric Wizard brings their Lovecraftian sound to Primavera Sound. Los Punsetes, 00:20 – 01:20
Brand New, 22:55 – 23:50 Long Island’s Brand New (QRO photos at a festival) were getting bigger & bigger, like with 2009’s Top Ten release, Daisy, but have since announced a sonic shift for the long-awaited follow-up, so who knows what to expect at Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival)?
Kelela, 21:45 – 22:30 Kelela’s 2013 mixtape, Cut 4 Me, has earned praise from Beyoncé to Björk.
Also: Mdou Moctar, 20:35 – 21:20 Cheatahs, 19:25 – 20:10 – QRO album review Exxasens, 18:25 – 19:00
Primavera Stage The Black Keys, 23:45 – 01:15 The blues-rock from guitar/drums duo of Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney (QRO photos) sounds like it comes from the deepest (and blackest…) part of the South, but these two white men (QRO photos at a festival) hail from Akron, Ohio. However, The Black Keys (QRO photos outdoors) are as gritty as anyone, whether on records like 2008’s Attack & Release (QRO review), 2010’s Brothers (QRO review), 2011’s El Camino (QRO review), or live (QRO photos at a festival), as depicted on the Live at Crystal Ballroom DVD (QRO review). And the duo (QRO photos at a festival) comes to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) touring last year’s Turn Blue (QRO review).
The Replacements, 21:10 – 22:10 When the Pixies (QRO live review) reunited at Coachella in 2004, we couldn’t have known how far and how great the trend of alt-rock reunions would become in this century/millennium. There’s been Dinosaur Jr. (QRO live review), Pavement (QRO live review), and now The Replacements! The band basically originated/defined ‘college rock’ in the eighties with classic albums on local indie imprint Twin/Tone (QRO deluxe edition reviews), before graduating to major label status for the second half of their impressive discography (QRO deluxe edition reviews). They called it quits in 1991, well after members like guitarist Bob Stinson and drummer Chris Mars had left, with only singer/guitarist Paul Westerberg and bassist Tommy Stinson remaining from the original line-up. Westerberg went on to a successful solo career, while Tommy Stinson (QRO solo photos) has managed to be the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll utility player, working in such outfits as Soul Asylum (QRO spotlight on) and even Guns n’ Roses (QRO photos at a festival), plus doing his own solo material (QRO solo album review). Bob Stinson unfortunately passed away in 1995, and more recently his ‘replacement’ Slim Dunlap was hospitalized from a severe stroke – which led to tons of musicians who were influenced by The Replacements to do a series of special, limited edition seven-inches in Dunlap’s benefit. And most recently, Tommy teamed up with Westerberg and Mars for the Songs For Slim EP (QRO review) – and now a full-fledged reunion (QRO photos of first reunion appearance – though Mars seems to prefer the life off the road – or just still can’t work with Westerberg…)! It was over twenty years ago that The Replacements were one-by-one replaced by their roadies at the band’s final concert in Chicago’s Grant Park (famed as the ‘It’s Not Over ‘Til the Last Roadie Plays’ concert), and in 2013 they returned to that stage (QRO photos at a Chicago festival) – plus, guest-spotting on rhythm guitar has been Billy Joe Armstrong (QRO photos of them with Armstrong at a festival)! Even if you’re too young to have caught ‘The Mats’ in their heyday, catch ‘em now, ‘cause you don’t want to be like Art Brut (QRO interview), “How have I only just discovered The Replacements (QRO photos)?!?” (now if we can only get a reunion from ‘other’ great band from Minneapolis, Hüsker Dü – QRO spotlight on…) Also: Baxter Dury, 18:55 – 19:55
ATP Stage Richie Hawtin, 04:20 – 05:30 Anglo-Canadian Richie Hawtin helped found Detroit’s techno sound and has been a leading exponent of minimalist techno.
Sunn O))), 01:00 – 01:50 Drone metal icons Sunn O))) come to Primavera Sound.
Spiritualized, 22:50 – 23:50 After the demise of the space-rock Spaceman 3, Jason Pierce stayed in the stratosphere (thanks to an inanimate carbon rod) as Spiritualized (QRO live review). He had been performing 1997’s Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (NME’s Album of the Year) in full, but Spiritualized (QRO photos) comes to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2012’s Sweet Heart Sweet Light.
The Thurston Moore Band, 20:50 – 21:40 The center around which the iconic Sonic Youth (QRO live review) largely revolved, Thurston Moore (QRO solo live review) has fashioned a musical legacy like few others, remaining relevant for going on forty years now in punk rock, alt-rock, noise-rock (a style Moore basically helped invent & popularize), and more. While the dissolution of his marriage to bandmate Kim Gordon seems to have spelled the end of Sonic Youth, Moore has kept on going, first in his post-Youth outfit Chelsea Light Moving (QRO photos at a festival) and now in The Thurston Moore Band. Also: Yasmine Hamdan, 19:00 – 19:45
Bowers & Wilkins Sound System Tuff City Kits, 04:00 – 05:30 Tale of Us, 02:15 – 04:00 Maceo Plex, 00:30 – 02:15 Rory Phillips, 23:15 – 00:30 Chelis, 22:00 – 23:15 Roman Flügel, 21:00 – 22:00

FRIDAY, MAY 29th

Auditori Rockdelux Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, 20:45 – 21:45 Tony Allen, 19:15 – 20:15 José González, 17:30 – 18:30 – QRO album review Rocío Márquez, 16:00 – 17:00
Ray-Ban Stage Dixon, 04:00 – 05:30 Ratatat, 03:00 – 03:55 New York’s Evan Mast & Mike Stroud form the electronic duo known as Ratatat (QRO photos at a festival). After putting out a self-titled record & following it up with Classics, their last two full-lengths have kept the simple-and-sweet-name, in LP3 (QRO review) and LP4, though July sees Magnifique. Fun will definitely be had, thanks to Ratatat’s energetic, psychedelic live show (QRO live review).
Death From Above 1979, 00:50 – 01:50 For an act that only broke up five years ago, Death From Above 1979’s reunion is actually one of the most anticipated (QRO photos at a festival). It helps that the duo of Jesse F. Keeler (who’s been in MSTRKRFT since the break-up) and Sebastien Grainger (who had his own solo career after the break-up – QRO album review) basically invented the dance-punk/noise-rock scene. Their initial reunion gig at South-by-Southwest in Austin in 2011 (QRO recap) was so mobbed that policemen came in on horses and used mace – won’t be that nuts at Primavera Sound, but expect a wild time (QRO photos at a festival) as the band tours (QRO live review) behind their self-titled reunion record (QRO review).
The Church, 22:40 – 23:35 Sydney’s The Church (QRO spotlight on) emerged as part of the new wave of the eighties, but they always do things differently Down Under, and the band has since evolved into neo-psychedelic and even prog-rock. Fronted by Steve Kilbey (QRO interview), they’ve gone through line-up changes but never stopped (QRO live review), with their twenty-fifth album, Further/Deeper, just out.
The Julie Ruin, 20:35 – 21:25 The original Riot Grrrl (alongside the likes of Sleater-Kinney & Babes In Toyland – see both below), Kathleen Hanna (who’s married to Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock – who knew?), is back, as the Bikini Kill star fronts the new Julie Ruin (QRO live review), who come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) to make-up the appearance they had to cancel last year.
Also: Sr. Chinarro, 18:40 – 19:25 Disappears, 17:00 – 17:40
H&M Pro Stage Miza, 04:00 – 04:40 Beatenberg, 03:00 – 03:40 Câmera, 02:00 – 02:40 THAW, 01:00 – 01:40 Mutiny On the Bounty, 00:00 – 00:40 Stara Rzeka, 23:00 – 23:40 Japan and I, 22:00 – 22:40 Terno Rei, 21:00 – 21:40 Fabryka, 20:00 – 20:40 WRY, 19:00 – 19:40 Doctor Lobo, 18:00 – 18:40 Do Amor, 17:00 – 17:40
Heineken Hidden Stage Mercromina, 19:30 – 20:15 The Pastels, 17:00 – 17:45
Pitchfork Stage Marc Piñol, 04:00 – 05:30 Movement, 03:00 – 03:55
The Juan MacLean, 01:40 – 02:35 One of the founding members of LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review), Juan MacLean (QRO interview) comes to Primavera Sound for a live set (QRO photos at a festival).
Ariel Pink, 00:10 – 01:10 Even a few years out from its origins, the chillwave scene is so new that even its founders are young. The just-past-thirty Ariel Marcus Rosenberg, or ‘Ariel Pink’ (QRO live review), helped start whatever you call the sound, just recording in his bedroom, but has since recruited a band (QRO live review) and ventured out & onto the stage, with 2010’s Before Today (QRO review), 2012’s Mature Themes (QRO review), and last year’s pom pom (QRO review), and has kept it up live (QRO live review).
Shabazz Palaces, 22:45 – 23:35 Hip-hop collective Shabazz Palaces hail from Seattle (QRO photos at a Washington State festival) – that’s why their latest, Black Up (QRO review), was released by indie label Sub Pop, better known for starting the grunge sound from up there twenty-plus years ago.
Perfume Genius, 21:30 – 22:20 Seattle’s chamber-pop artist Mike Hadreas comes to Primavera Sound as Perfume Genius (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: Tobias Jesso Jr., 20:10 – 21:00 Ex Hex, 19:00 – 19:45 Núria Graham, 17:45 – 18:30
ATP Stage Jon Hopkins, 02:00 – 02:55 Jon Hopkins began his musical career playing keyboards for Imogen Heap (QRO live review), went on to produce records for the big-name likes of Brian Eno & Coldplay, and has now made his own name in electronic music with Mercury Prize-nominated records Diamond Mine and 2013’s Immunity.
Run the Jewels, 23:45 – 00:40 El-P blew up the Brooklyn rap scene with 2013’s Cancer 4 Cure (QRO review of release party), and brought about his team-up with Killer Mike (QRO photos at a festival) for 2012’s ‘Into the Wild’ tour. Mike & P have deepened that connection, working together as Run the Jewels (QRO photos at a festival) for two critically acclaimed records, most recently last year’s Run the Jewels 2, with word of 3 already in the works.
Belle & Sebastian, 21:30 – 22:30 While everyone raves about all the nineties acts reuniting, such as Superchunk (QRO live review) & Teenage Fanclub (QRO live review), pause for a moment to praise great bands from the last century/millennium who didn’t break up, such as Belle & Sebastian (QRO photos outdoors). The Glaswegian outfit’s ‘wistful pop’ has captured hearts for years & years now, with their latest, this year’s Girls In Peacetime Wanna Dance (QRO review), pretty much saying it all.
The New Pornographers, 19:30 – 20:25 The middle of the last decade saw the rise of Canadian near-supergroup collectives, such as Broken Social Scene (QRO spotlight on) and The New Pornographers (QRO live review), fronted by Carl Newman (QRO solo album review), but also including singer Neko Case (QRO solo live review), singer/guitarist Dan Bejar (a.k.a. Destroyer – QRO album review) and singer/keyboardist Kathryn Calder (QRO solo album review). Unlike their eastern Canadian brethren, The New Pornographers (QRO live review) eschew the fuzzy atmospherics for power-pop (QRO live review) on 2007’s Challengers (QRO review), 2010’s Together (QRO review), and last year’s Brill Bruisers (QRO review). Also: The KVB, 17:45 – 18:30 – QRO photos
Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage Garden City Movement, 22:30 – 22:50 Tel Aviv brings electronic indie-pop in Garden City Movement (QRO interview). Ocellot, 21:00 – 21:20
Cheatahs, 19:30 – 19:50 Cheatahs (QRO photos at a festival) taught the old dog of fuzzy rock some new tricks on their self-titled debut (QRO review) last year. Also: Opatov, 18:00 – 18:20
Heineken Stage alt-J, 01:30 – 02:45 Among all the overnight alt-successes, maybe no one has done it as quickly or as majorly as alt-J (QRO live review). Also known as ‘∆’ – that’s what you get when press the ‘alt’ and ‘J’ buttons on your keyboard – the indie-more quartet went from playing tiny places at terrible hours in 2012 (QRO photos) to winning their native England’s prestigious Mercury Prize later that year (QRO photos at a U.K. festival), and playing America (QRO photos at a North American festival) at much, much larger spaces (QRO photos).
Sleater-Kinney, 22:20 – 23:35 One of the bands that defined the Riot Grrrl alt-rock feminist movement of the nineties (alongside the likes of Babes In Toyland – see below – and Kathleen Hanna, now of The Julie Ruin – see above), Sleater-Kinney (QRO live review) reunited this year behind new album No Cities To Love (QRO review), and are as vital as ever.
Patti Smith & Her Band, 20:00 – 21:00 Primavera Sound lined up a true punk icon for their festival – Patti Smith (QRO photos outdoors). The ‘Godmother of Punk’ was one of the first to truly fuse rock and poetry, and served as something of a bridge between the beatniks & hippies of the fifties & sixties and the punks of the seventies and eighties. Her music even gave the name to perhaps New York’s most important venue, Bowery Ballroom (QRO venue review), and she helped open its sister in Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg (QRO venue review). She may have been made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, but she hasn’t slowed down (QRO photos), and won’t be any less impressive in Barcelona (QRO photos at a festival), as she & her band perform her classic Horses. Also: Sylvan Esso, 18:00 – 18:45
Adidas Originals Stage The Soft Moon, 04:00 – 05:00 The Soft Moon (QRO photos at a festival) have a post-post-punk sound that’s been called ‘Post-Apocalyptic’, and come to Primavera Sound behind this year’s Deeper.
Pallbearer, 02:40 – 03:30 From Arkansas comes the epic doom metal of Pallbearer (QRO photos at a festival).
Earth, 01:15 – 02:15 Seattle’s instrumental outfit Earth began in the minimalist drone doom, and then reinvented themselves by adding a drummer and elements from jazz to folk.
Also: Voivod, 23:55 – 00:50 Pharmakon, 23:00 – 23:35 The Hotelier, 21:50 – 22:35 White Hills, 20:30 – 21:25 Miquel Serra, 19:20 – 20:00 Fumaça Preta, 18:10 – 18:55
Primavera Stage Ride, 23:45 – 01:15 When Liam Gallagher’s post-Oasis Beady Eye (QRO photos) broke up last year, people weren’t wondering if he’d get back together with brother Noel, but instead if guitarist Andy Bell would reunite with his first band, Ride. Their early nineties output was as essential to shoegaze as anything My Bloody Valentine did, and MBV reunited… And so has Ride (QRO photos at a festival), for a stellar reunion tour this summer, including Primavera Sound!
Damien Rice, 21:10 – 22:10 The multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Irishman Damien Rice (QRO photos) emerged from fronting Juniper to a successful solo career, including becoming a soundtrack favorite. Last year he released his third solo record, My Favourite Faded Fantasy.
Julian Casablanca + The Voidz, 18:55 – 19:50 When The Strokes (see below) broke out of the Lower East Side in 2001 and basically launched the alternative music revival, fronting the band was singer Julian Casablancas. When The Strokes began to feel like old hat later in the decade, they went into hiatus & solo projects. Casablancas released the lame electronic Phrazes For the Young (QRO review) to decent commercial success, but eventually found his way back to The Strokes for 2011’s Angles (QRO review) and last year’s Comedown Machine (QRO review). But that record looks to be The Strokes last for a while again, as Casablancas is already looking to a new project, Julian Casablancas + The Voidz, though the live word isn’t great (QRO photos at a festival).
Bowers & Wilkins Sound System Objekt, 04:00 – 05:30 Started with techno-influenced dubstep but twisted his style to offer pumping and rolling modern techno. Expect the unexpected.
Also: Exoteric Continent, 03:15 – 04:00 Raime, 01:45 – 03:15 Veronica Vasicka, 00:15 – 01:45 Sunny Graces, 23:25 – 00:15 bRUNA, 22:00 – 23:25 Dixon, 21:00 – 22:00

SATURDAY, MAY 30th

Auditori Rockdelux Swans, 19:25 – 21:55 An influential act that’s been a regular at Primavera Sounds on the Iberian Peninsula in both Barcelona (QRO photos at 2013 Barcelona Primavera Sound) and Oporto (QRO photos at 2013 Optimus Primavera Sound) is New York’s post-punk pioneers Swans (QRO live review). Fronted Michael Gira (QRO solo photos), Swans land back in Barcelona behind last year’s To Be Kind and 2012’s The Seer (QRO review).
Ben Watt, 17:30 – 18:30 One half of Everything But the Girl, Ben Watt comes to Primavera Sound on his own.
Patti Smith, 16:00 – 17:00 Primavera Sound lined up a true punk icon for their festival – Patti Smith (QRO photos outdoors). The ‘Godmother of Punk’ was one of the first to truly fuse rock and poetry, and served as something of a bridge between the beatniks & hippies of the fifties & sixties and the punks of the seventies and eighties. Her music even gave the name to perhaps New York’s most important venue, Bowery Ballroom (QRO venue review), and she helped open its sister in Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg (QRO venue review). She may have been made a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, but she hasn’t slowed down (QRO photos), and won’t be any less impressive in Barcelona (QRO photos at a festival), as she plays acoustic.
H&M Pro Stage Safia, 03:00 – 03:40 Sun God Replica, 02:00 – 02:40 The Shalalalas, 01:00 – 01:40 Jaloo, 00:00 – 00:40 Flyying Colours, 23:00 – 23:40 – QRO photos Millions, 22:00 – 22:40 KLO, 21:00 – 21:40 Holy Holy, 20:00 – 20:40 We Used To Pray, 19:00 – 19:40 Holy Paul, 18:00 – 18:40 Opatov, 17:00 – 17:40
Heineken Hidden Stage The Vaselines, 19:30 – 20:15 Edinburgh’s The Vaselines (QRO photos in U.K.) were not known outside of their native Scotland until they found a high-profile fan in Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, who covered such songs of theirs as “Son of a Gun” (QRO video) on Incesticide and MTV Unplugged In New York (QRO DVD review), though it only led to a compilation of all their work in The Way of The Vaselines. But more recently the band (QRO photos) reformed & finally came to America (QRO photos in America), put out another compilation in Enter The Vaselines (QRO review) – and then the brand-spanking new Sex With an X (QRO review) & single “I Hate the 80s” (QRO video), following it up last year with the less impressive V For Vaselines (QRO review). And be sure to check out the cheeky Scots’ very dirty humor live (QRO live review), whether you’re a “Teenage Superstar” (QRO video) or “You Think You’re a Man” (QRO video).
Mujeres, 17:00 – 17:45 Local Barcelona band Mujeres plays Primavera for their umpteenth time.
Ray-Ban Stage DJ Coco, 04:00 – 05:30 DJ Coco returns to Primavera Sound for a fifth year in a row, to once again close out the Ray-Ban Stage.
Caribou, 03:00 – 03:55 Daniel Victor Snaith (QRO photos) combined electronica and psychedelica expertly with 2007’s Andorra (QRO review) as Caribou (QRO live review). 2010’s Swim (QRO review) looked to nineties electronic beats, not as fine, but still holds up – as does his live show (QRO live review), especially at a festival (QRO photos at a festival). He comes back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera ’11) behind last year’s Our Love.
Dan Deacon, 00:50 – 01:50 One of the acts bringing the wild, DIY element to Primavera Sound is Dan Deacon (QRO photos). The Baltimore native (QRO photos outdoors) is a man of many talents, including throwing his own DIY festivals & tours, like 2009’s ‘Round Robin’ tour (QRO live review) with No Age (QRO live review) & Deerhunter (QRO live review). But he’s still best known as an electronic musician, most recently with this year’s Gliss Riffer, 2012’s America (QRO review), and 2009’s Bromst (QRO review), which get wild live (QRO live review), whether with his fifteen-piece backing band (QRO live review) or Deacon standing & playing from in the crowd (QRO photos, outdoors at a festival), like at festivals (QRO photos at a festival).
Les Ambassadeurs, 22:50 – 23:40 Mali’s Les Ambassadeurs make it across the Sahara and the Mediterranean for Primavera Sound.
Tori Amos, 20:30 – 21:30 Primavera Sound has welcomed many iconic musicians, and Tori Amos (QRO spotlight on) is certainly iconic. The artist (QRO interview) uses her classical music training and mezzo-soprano vocal range for soul-baring work, stretching across genres and years. Also: Nueva Vulcano, 18:40 – 19:25 Joan Miquel Oliver, 17:00 – 17:40
Pitchfork Stage Mike Simonetti, 04:00 – 05:30 Single Mothers, 03:10 – 03:55 Post-hardcore act Single Mothers plays late at the Pitchfork Stage.
HEALTH, 01:50 – 02:45 Los Angeles’ own HEALTH (QRO photos) not only bring the noise-rock to Primavera Sound, but are also known for their mash-ups, most notably with electronic dance duo Crystal Castles (QRO live review), though outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), they’re more ‘noise’ than ‘rock’.
Twin Shadow, 00:30 – 01:25 With one of the best debut album of 2010, Forget, produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear (QRO live review), George Lewis Jr. (a.k.a. Twin Shadow – QRO photos) shot up on the hype meter. Turns out, the ‘80s new wave-influenced pop of the Dominican Republic born musician (QRO photos at a festival) actually lived up to its reputation. Sophisticated melodies and catchy hooks abound, the tracks of Forget easily transitioned from haunting poetics to infectious dance numbers (QRO photos at a festival), and he’s lived up to that level with 2012’a follow-up, Confess, which he tours (QRO live review).
tUnE-yArDs, 23:00 – 00:00 Oakland’s Merrill Garbus (QRO photos) got notice in the likes of Brooklyn (QRO photos) & Britain (QRO live review in London) as tUnE-yArDs (QRO photos outdoors), and then more and more fans behind her debut w h o k i l l (QRO review). She comes back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ’11) after last spring’s release of follow-up Nikki Nack (QRO review).
DIIV, 21:40 – 22:30 Brooklyn shoegaze outfit DIIV (QRO live review) – previously known as Dive (QRO photos) – come to Primavera Sound, after releasing debut Oshin (QRO review) in 2012.
American Football, 19:35 – 20:25 One of the founding bands of emo, American Football reunited last year and has kept that going into Primavera.
Also: MOURN, 18:30 – 19:10 Kevin Morby, 17:30 – 18:10
ATP Stage Thee Oh Sees, 01:55 – 02:55 Hailing from The O.C. (the name was original ‘Orange County Sound’, then ‘OCS’, then – well, you get the idea…), John Dwyer formed Thee Oh Sees (QRO photos at a festival) to put out his experimental, instrumental home recordings, but over seven records has morphed into a full band and a wild live show (QRO photos at a festival). Thee Oh Sees come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) behind the new Mutilator Defeated At Last.
Babes In Toyland, 23:45 – 00:40 Alongside the likes of Sleater-Kinney & Kathleen Hanna, now of The Julie Ruin (see both above), Babes In Toyland helped define the Riot Grrrl sound of the nineties (even if they never associated with that movement). They broke up just after the nineties ended, but 2015 has seen a nascent reunion, with Primavera Sound getting some of the first shows.
Einstürzende Neubauten, 21:40 – 22:40 Now in their fourth decade, the (West) Berlin-born Einstürzende Neubauten (QRO photos at a festival) helped forge both the industrial and post-industrial sound, like the Ruhr moving from coal to high-tech. They were using custom-built instruments (made from scrap metal and the like) alongside ‘traditional’ ones (not to mention having their own trademark logo long before Prince was ‘The Artist Formerly Known As Prince’).
Fucked Up, 19:30 – 20:20 While Holy Fuck (QRO live review) lost the Polaris Music Prize in 2008, that kind of a name didn’t stop Fucked Up from winning it the following year with Chemistry of Common Life (though it almost derailed the Pool Parties at Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn – QRO photos), and the band followed that up with singles collection Couple Tracks (QRO review) and 2011’s concept rock opus, David Comes to Life. Whether their hardcore music lives up to praise rarely given to hardcore is still up for debate, but what isn’t is how nuts the crowd goes (QRO photos at a festival) for this act out of Toronto (QRO photos outdoors), with singer/frontman Damian Abraham bringing it (QRO live review), shirtless and crazy (QRO photos at a festival). They come to Primavera Sound after last year’s release of Glass Boys. Also: Younghusband, 17:45 – 18:30
Heineken Stage Underworld, 01:30 – 03:00 Before today’s embrace of electronic music, there was a major wave in the nineties, and leading that wave was Underworld (QRO photos). They practically defined the British rave movement while not being defined by it, and their beats have kept on going, with latest Barking (QRO review) out in 2010.
Interpol, 22:20 – 23:35 When the Lower East Side music scene broke out at the beginning of this century/millennium, one of the biggest breakouts was neo-New Wave outfit Interpol (QRO live review) with Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics. Unfortunately, 2007 major label debut Our Love To Admire (QRO review) was a serious disappointment, leading to a hiatus (where singer/guitarist Paul Banks did his own solo thing as Julian Plenti – QRO European tour review). But 2010’s return to Matador Records Interpol (QRO review) was a return to form, and so was their live show (QRO photos), even on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival). Of course, the following year saw another hiatus (with Paul Banks going solo again, this time under his own name – QRO album review), but the band has returned once more (QRO photos at a festival), with El Pintor (QRO review) out last August (QRO photos at a festival in August) and coming back to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera Sound ‘11).
Mac DeMarco, 20:00 – 21:00 Some artists toil in obscurity for years, even decades, but Mac DeMarco (QRO photos at a festival) is only just old enough to drink, and already has his debut full-length, Mac DeMarco 2, and reputation for wild live shows (QRO photos at a festival) that brings him to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: Strand of Oaks, 18:00 – 18:45 – QRO photos
Ray-Ban Unplugged Stage The Bohicas, 22:30 – 22:50 Single Mothers, 21:00 – 21:20 Dulce Pájara De Juventud, 19:30 – 19:50 Sleaford Mods, 18:00 – 18:20 – QRO album review
Adidas Originals Stage Der Panther, 04:00 – 04:50 The experimental cosmic-rock flamenco of multi-city, multi-lingual Der Panther is a perfect fit for Primavera Sound.
Hookworms, 02:50 – 03:40 Catch the psychedelic noise-rock of Hookworms (QRO photos at a festival).
Shellac, 01:30 – 02:20 Famed producer Steve Albini started in eighties punk act Big Black, and keeps him hand in the performing side of the game fronting Shellac – who will be playing their seventh year in a row at Primavera Sound (QRO photos at Primavera ’11).
Earthless, 00:05 – 01:00 Stretching from krautrock to Japanese psychedelic rock, San Diego’s Earthless span the earth with their instrumental sounds, most recently with 2013’s From the Ages.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 22:35 – 23:35 From Portland (QRO photos in Portland), but also New Zealand, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (QRO live review) impressed a lot of ears with their self-titled debut (QRO review), which managed to be avant while also still rockin’ (QRO photos at a festival).
Sleaford Mods, 21:10 – 22:00 Catch QRO Nottingham favorites Sleaford Mods (QRO album review) at Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival). Also: The Bohicas, 20:00 – 20:45 Neleonard, 18:45 – 19:30
Primavera Stage The Strokes, 23:45 – 01:15 Back in 2001, The Strokes’ Is This It and “Hard To Explain” basically launched the alternative music revival, starting in Lower East Side before going to Brooklyn, Canada, Sweden, and everywhere else (not to mention drummer Fabrizio Moretti dating Drew Barrymore). However, follow-ups Room On Fire and First Impressions of Earth were way too similar to what the band had broken through with, while countless indie acts had taken advantage of the opening & the internet to make The Strokes feel like old hat, and fans say, “Is This It?”. Various members did their own thing, such as solo records from guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (QRO solo photos at a festival) and singer Julian Casablancas (QRO solo photos at a festival), but didn’t light the world on fire (QRO review of Casablancas solo record), and Barrymore & Moretti broke up, leaving the band something of a forgotten caricature (or, as The Onion so excellently put it in a side headline, ‘Guy from The Strokes accused of looking like guy from The Strokes’). But maybe that’s what the band needed – no follow-up or solo record could live up to Is This It, and there was enough time that them getting back together for 2011’s Angles (QRO review) practically counted as the first ‘twenty-first century reunion’ (on the lines of the popular eighties & nineties alt-reunions – we need a name for the last decade…). However, last year saw them release Comedown Machine (QRO review), which seemed like a ‘last record’, from the chosen name to the band not doing any promotion to it being the final one on their RCA contract. Casablancas, Hammond, and others are already looking to solo projects again (see above), so this might be your last chance to catch The Strokes in a while/ever (QRO photos at a festival).
Foxygen, 21:10 – 22:10 While they formed back in 2005, Westlake Village duo Foxygen (QRO photos at a festival) only put out their first full-length in 2012, Take the Kids Off Broadway – but had their second, We Are the Twenty-First Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, in 2013. However, they are best known for the wild, unhinged live shows, with lead singer Sam France climbing stage equipment and more (QRO photos outdoors).
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, 18:55 – 19:50 Sean Lennon teamed up with his girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl as The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger (QRO photos at a festival) to spend more time together, and solidified it into a band with last year’s full-length debut, Midnight Sun.
Bowers & Wilkins Sound System C.P.I., 03:00 – 05:00 JMII, 02:00 – 03:00 Red Axes, 23:30 – 00:30 Christian S, 22:00 – 23:30 Daphni, 21:00 – 22:00

SUNDAY, MAY 31st

Apolo Venue Fucked Up While Holy Fuck (QRO live review) lost the Polaris Music Prize in 2008, that kind of a name didn’t stop Fucked Up from winning it the following year with Chemistry of Common Life (though it almost derailed the Pool Parties at Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn – QRO photos), and the band followed that up with singles collection Couple Tracks (QRO review) and 2011’s concept rock opus, David Comes to Life. Whether their hardcore music lives up to praise rarely given to hardcore is still up for debate, but what isn’t is how nuts the crowd goes (QRO photos at a festival) for this act out of Toronto (QRO photos outdoors), with singer/frontman Damian Abraham bringing it (QRO live review), shirtless and crazy (QRO photos at a festival). They come to Primavera Sound after last year’s release of Glass Boys.
Thee Oh Sees Hailing from The O.C. (the name was original ‘Orange County Sound’, then ‘OCS’, then – well, you get the idea…), John Dwyer formed Thee Oh Sees (QRO photos at a festival) to put out his experimental, instrumental home recordings, but over seven records has morphed into a full band and a wild live show (QRO photos at a festival). Thee Oh Sees come to Primavera Sound (QRO photos at a festival) behind the new Mutilator Defeated At Last.
Also: Dave P Jambinai The Saurs
BARTS My Brightest Diamond While Shara Worden (QRO photos at a festival) has shined in her collaborations, like those with National (QRO photos at a National-curated festival) spin-off Clogs (QRO photos) and Sufjan Stevens (QRO live review), she’s still best known as My Brightest Diamond (QRO photos outdoors) on albums like 2008’s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth (QRO review), 2011’s All Things Will Unwind (QRO review), and last year’s This Is My Hand.
Also: SOAK – QRO photos Soledad Vélez Torres
Ciutadella (Els vermuts del Primavera) SOAK – QRO photos Gúdar Single Mothers La [2] de Apolo Dulce Pájara De Juventud Greus Salvaje Montoya
Martini (Els vermuts del Primavera) The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger Sean Lennon teamed up with his girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl as The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger (QRO photos at a festival) to spend more time together, and solidified it into a band with last year’s full-length debut, Midnight Sun. Also: Jambinai Jessica & The Fletchers

For festival website, go here: http://www.primaverasound.es/?lang=en